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October 15 PtarmiganThe ptarmigan is a bird found year round in arctic along the ravens. It is about the size of a small chicken with short legs and small wings. there are two sub species in arctic - the rock ptarmigan and the willow ptarmigan. here in Cambridge lives the rock rock ptarmigan. It is the official bird of Nunavut. like most of the birds in arcitc, the ptarmigan is adapted to the arctic climate and change their colors a few times in a year to match the colors of surrounding tundra. During winter, it becomes pure white, the camouflage completely protected the birds from its predator. Ptarmigan is the only bird i have ever seen that even the feet are covered by feathers. As the ptarmigan protect itself mainly by camouflage, so it is not a fast reactor, some time you can walk to a pretty close distance before they fly away, because this reason, Inuit kids can kill ptarmigan by fling or even throwing rocks.  Summer/fall color October 12 Thanks given to God The caribou is one of the Canada's most treasured wildlife species in terms of their biological and cultural importance to Inuit and other aboriginals in far north. They mean everything from nutrients to clothing even today! their annual migration is not as spectacular as the wild beasts do in African, but it definitely an amazing phenomenon on frozen tundra. Recently the caribou herds have come to coast area of Coronation Gulf from northern Victoria Island, to wait for freezing up of the ocean which works as a bridge for caribou to cross to mainland for wintering, this short stay at coastal areas provides local Inuit precious opportunity to harvest for their substantive needs in coming long winter. i have made commitment early in the year to give up all hunting activities, therefore in this migrating season, i shoot them only by my camera rather than raffle as i did in past, wildlife hunting is the way of the life here, but it make me feel guilty.Thanks God for giving me a relatively mild weekend (-15 C) which enabled me to get out by ATV and shoot some photos for those beautiful creatures.     September 09 Arctic tundra world in AutumnFlurrying snow in last week has reminded me this summer has gone in arctic. However there have been no many exciting wildlife encounters this year. one weekend, a boom purple in a samll valley catch my interest while the other part of tundra had turned into deadly brown with few cluster red leaves highlighted the full swings fall season. brillieant purple color in a small valley Red leaves on arctic tundra  In last month I missed a arctic wolf this year again on mainland during a duty visit, when a white arctic wolf appeared at Roberts Bay area just after I left roughly an hour, only a cute arctic squirrel welcomed me to step on mainland tundra, however, the cost area of arctic ocean was still scenic in the late of August.an arctic squirrel Coast area in arctic Canada geese are ready to head down south for winter the only exiting moment was sighting this white arctic owl. i have been search this magnificent for long time, unfortunately she was so alert that i could not get a close up shot, this one is cropped. However it is still better than nothing.an arctic owl May 23 24 hours day time comes againIn south, the sun always rises in the east and sets in the west, but in far north, the sun rises and sets in different directions during different times of the year, for example, it might rises in the south and set in the south, rise in the north and set in the north, or does not rise or set at all. To compensate a month’s disappearance, in spring of every year, the sun would stay up for 24 hours a day without setting at all until July or August, depends on the latitude the place locates. The higher the altitude, the longer the period time of 24 hrs darkness, and 24hrs daylight as well, which means an earlier starting time and latter ending time. So where on the ear do you expect to see this spectacular phenomenon? the answer is anywhere above the Arctic Circle. The Arctic Circle is the 66.75 degree latitude line at which the sun won't set at least one day in a year; it is also the latitude at which the sun won't rise at least one day. In Cambridge Bay is almost 70 degree latitude, this year’s the first 24 hours sunlight day started on May 22, because the nights were already so bright even before that date, in addition, it has been cloudy and overcastted for a while, so this process more like a transit rather than a sharp change as it is in perception. As part of annual events, each community would holds variety of activities to celebrate the return of spring after many month dark and cold winter. In Cambridge Bay, annual Omingmak Frolics (in the middle of May) marks the arrival 24 hours day time. August 18 growing up peregrine FalconPeregrine Falcons are listed as special concern by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, they usurally habitat on North American continent, and rarely seen on Victoria Island in Arctic region. But this year i found a nest in the vicinity of Cambridge Bay Airport on July 19th, when three chicks came just out of eggs not so long time ago. After more than 3 weeks, when i went back to check again in last week, surprisely all of them had survived from numberous predators, such as foxes and woverines, and apparently they were growing up in a good conditions.
1,this is the photo taken on July 19.three chicks were so vulnerable.
 2, the photo taken on August 12. they were so alert that openned their eyes widely when they saw intruder.
 3. the warning parent Peregrine Falcon, this is a relatively clean pic after first time failure due to poor light .in addition, they fly so fast that focusing is extremely difficult.
 August 13 last stay of summer on tundrait is only the mid August, but it is already much cooler than 2 weeks ago, except the wetland and marsh areas close to water bodies, the color of tundra starts turning into light brow. here are some photos taken in past week.
Tipical tundra topography: lake dotted barren land
 Wetland close to lakes
 Small creek on turndra
 A Sandhill Crane
 August 10 Witnessing a new legend under writing
Gary Ramos, a 56 years old grandpa from States, left Cambridge Bay and resumed his unprecedented adventure in this morning. We have had a very good talk a few days ago when he was fixing his boat. According our appointment, Mike and I went to dock to say good bye to him at 2:30am with some food and beverages prepared by Mike, but he was still in sleep, so we turned back without disturbing his “power charging”. In later morning when found his boat had disappeared, we check his travel log on his website http://www.arcticwandering.com/ , the GPS indicated that was already out of Cambridge Bay and on the route to King William Island, in Queen Maud Gulf . This new legend started at Seward, Alaska 3 years ago, in a 39 feet long, 27 hp boat named Arctic Wanderer, he has passed through Bering Strait, Chuckchi and Beaufort, and the Northwest Passage. In August, 2005 after almost 3 months waving on icy Arctic ocean, he had to anchored his boat in Cambridge Bay due to engine problem. Then this great journey was suspended 3 years due to bureaucratic custom regulations which blocked him from bring necessary parts from States to Canada to repair Arctic Wanderer. Luckily he finally worked through all obstacles and fixed his engine, and resumed his great adventure today. His destination is Tromso Norway after passing by, northern Baffin, Greenland and Iceland. When he finish this journey, he will be first person sail around the North Pole single-handed. here i want to deliver all my best wishes for him to complete this great adventure in Sep-Oct,2009. This is his Arctic wanderer.
August 02 solar eclipseAugust 1st, 2008 , the first totall solar eclipse swiped north American after almost 30 years (last total eclipse was in 1979). unfornunately,it could only be ovbserved in three small comnunities,which all locate in Nunavut, in the arctic of Canada. As such, a couple of visitor come to these three spots cross Canada and other countries for this purpose.
As per the prediction, the eclipse stats at 2:50am, mid eclipse at 2:32 and finish at 4:15am, however in Cambridge Bay (where i live now), the sunrise time is 2:50 am afer more than 2 month 24 hrs sunshine, that mens the eclipse starts just after the sun rise above horizon. therefore the best obeservaton spot is on the top Mount Pelly, around 20 km of the east.
it was supposed a clean ngiht and very favorable for watching before, but it turned out a really awful day, the sky was blankeked by cloud in the evneing and got clear untill 4:00 in the morning. After midnight, some residants and visitors drove by themselves to Mount Pell, those wihtout vehicals were waiting at the Arctic Vistor Centre to have a ride. at the last minite before 2:00am, still some ppl waited for ride despeately, when a Twin Otter charter landed and provided a couple of seats for residants. it was too lucky for them to blieve, they enjoyed whole solar eclipse above the cloud while most of others were staying on the top of montain. seeing no opportunities after 3:30am, most of unlucky observers turned back town, and i was down the hill to continue my ATV drive, the sun buuped out cloud before the elipse was over. it was so spetalular, as there still some light cloud, so we don't even use the prepared solar view glasseses
myself went out around 10:30 pm in the late evening with 2 friends. before watching the eclipse at 2:53 am, we already had had a long ATV ride on roadless tundra around the mountain, eventurely I did not miss this opportunity and shot some pics when others turned back. after the eclipse was over, we had another 2 hours drive to finish our perimeter ride circulating the Mount Pelly. just before start work, we back the town and started another busy day in office.
the eclipse when it come out of clund
the sun at the end of eclipse
Mount Pelly Territorial Park (a tipical treeless arctic muntain)
July 28 Arctic Foxes and SealsYesterday i had a adventure to the southmost tip of the peninsula pinting into Coronaiton Gulf to look for Arctic Fox, as my friend sent me the photos he took from there a few days ago. during my trip. In addtion of fox family, 2 adaults foxes and 5 cubs, i was supprised there were so many seals crowed close the seashore. all kinds of sea birds were flocking around seals to pick up their cate when i passed by. it is realy a spetacular scene when so many creature get the grey ocena a paradise for enjoying deliciousness.
the adult fox started to attack me when i approached his dent
 the baby foxes were watching their parent's braveness
 one of thousands upon thousands seals, peeping me from sea
 clounds of gulls
July 26 Loss and GainIt was supposed to be a trip to look for Sandhill Crane, as i am not satisfied to those photos and hope i could get a chance to get better ones.However, a half days drive turned out resultless. but i got some i didn't expected when i headed out, a large muskox herd, a couple of different awsome flowers i never see before..
July 25 Grizzly Bear Coming to TownYesterday a big Grizlly Bear was sighted in vicinity of the city in the late morning, and public warning notices were posted everywhere, but it was driven away from town by wildlife officer upon got report. It is said there was bear sighting once three to 5 years in the past, but recently this numbers increased dramatically. In last year there were two bear sightings, one of which was ended by kill of the bear by wildlife office for safety reason. But this year there have been 3 bear sightings. But only yesterdays sighting was confirmed by wildlife officer, this big bear was witnessed by a few archaeologists who were digging the historical site just outside of town when an adult huge bear closed to they. The good news is, they were not injured by the bear, and the bear was not killed either. the reason? The wildlife officer who drove away the bear yesterday is also my friend, he told me it would be too much work to do after kill, like skinning, carcase handling as well as complicate reporting etc. After I got this news, I was so excited that I drove out of town along the road with another guy to look for this bear. was I crazy? No definitely. If we drive ATV on road with good condition, there would be no risk being caught by bear. Another reason is the Grizzly bear is not aggressive as the black bear, unless they are annoyed, threatened or their cubs are exposed under potential threat, they usually won’t attack human beings. Then what is come out? We drove 15 km away from town slowly in high alert, but nothing was found. but luckly got some pictures of Arctic Tern, Plovers and Jaegers. a Arctic tern was scraching in air
a plover was protecting her hatching nest
a landing.Jaeger
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